Method of and apparatus for making cut nails



Sept. 25, 1956 V E. E. HEMANN 2,763,878

' METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR MAKING CUT NAILS Filed April 9, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 is :7 1a 3 INVENTOR {*Zyan E. flefnnafnz Sept. 25, 1956 E. E. HEMANN METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR MAKING CUT NAILS Filed April 9, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR gum E. Hemann United States Patent METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR MAKING CUT NAILS Evan E. Hemann, Mead Township, Belmont County, Ohio Application April 9, 1952, Serial No. 281,351 12 Claims. (Cl. ---34) This invention relates to the manufacture of cut nails and comprises a number of features of improvement in apparatus and methods for their fabrication.

Cut nails have been manufactured for many years and preceded the manufacture of wire nails which have to a large extent replaced them. Cut nails have numerous advantages over wire nails. They are stronger, have greater holding power and are more easily driven into hardwoods, cement aggregates and like materials which resist the penetration of wire nails. Cut nails have, however, been substantially replaced for most purposes by the wire nail by reason of their expense. Cut nails are presently made by a shear mechanism having a plate holder which automatically rotates 180 after each out. In this machine a nail plate is placed in the plate holder and passed through between a pair of shear blades. The plate holder is rotated 180 after each cut in order to make the proper angle on each side of each nail. The width of each nail plate is equal to the length of the nails being made and about two feet long. About 10 per cent. of each nail plate must be scrapped byreason of the inability of the shear to make nails at the end of the plate where. it is held by the plate holder. This method is expensive and slow and as a result the price of cut nails has been much greater than that of wire nails ofcorresponding size. 1

Lpro'vide'a mechanism and process for the manufacture of cut nails from continuous strip in which the apparatus comprises generally means intermittently advancing a continuous strip of metal, means receiving one end of said strip and cutting nails blanks therefrom in multiples of two lying in opposite directions, said blanks each having a small end and a large end, means upsetting the large end of each blank upon completion of the cut ting operation and means discharging the upset blanks from the machine. The means intermittently advancing the strip preferably are in the form of a pair of feed rolls operated by the movement of the nail blank cutting means and a stop preferably provided on one end of the cutting means to position the end of the continuous strip being cut. This stop may be an extension of the upper cutting die. The cutting means for cutting the nail blanks is preferably in the form of two dies, a moving die and a bed die, each having slots into which the nails are forced when cut. Means are provided for positioning the nail blanks in the slots so as to have a portion of the large end project from the two dies for heading. Means are provided on the dies for clamping the blanks after positioning them for heading. The means upsetting the large ends of the blanks are preferably header levers or hammers pivoted below the bed die to swing upward and strike the large end of the nail blank to upset it against the side of'the die. The upper or moving die is preferably mounted on a vertically moving ramslidable in vertical guideways and spring loaded to raise it out of contact with the bed die. The upper end of the ram is preferably in contact with a rotating cam surface. The positioning means and the header 'ice means are preferably connected to the same shaft carrying the cam means and are operated by eccentrics mounted thereon. Each of the positioners is preferably provided with means for ejecting the nails after upsetting so as to discharge them from the mechanism and clear it for the next portion of the strip.

I have attempted to point out particular features of my invention and the advantages but have not attempted to detail each and every one of the novel features thereof. Other details, features and advantages of my invention will become apparent from the following description of a present preferred embodiment thereof.

In the accompanying drawings I have shown a present preferred embodiment of the apparatus including the above-outlined apparatus features and have illustrated a present preferred method of practicing the features in which:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of the mechanism of my invention;

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the mechanism of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a section on the line IIIIII of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a plan view of a top die; and

Figure 5 is a plan view of the bottom die.

Referring now to the drawings I have illustrated a mechanism for making out nails comprising a main housing 10 having vertical guideways 11 therein. A ram 12 is movably mounted in the guideways and is spring loaded with springs 13 which tend to raise it in the guideways 11. A main shaft 14 extends horizontally above the ram ,12 and is journaled for rotation at the top of the housing 10 in bearings 15. A cam 16 is mounted on the shaft 14 above and in contact with the top of the ram 12. The cam contour will be obvious from the description of the operation of the complete mechanism appearing hereafter. A moving die 17 is fixed to the bottom of the ram 12 and moves with it. This die is made up of alternate male portions 17a and female portions 17b as shown in Figure 4. A lower or bed die 18 is provided immediately below the moving die 17 and has alternate male portions 18a and female portions 18b to cooperate with the male and female portions 17a and 17b of the moving die 17 as shown in Figure 5.

A continuous strip of steel is held on the feed spool 19 and the free end thereof is carried between feed rolls 20 and 21 which deliver it between the dies 17 and 18. The feed roll 21 is driven by a ratchet 22 operated by a dog 23 on the ram 12 as it rises in the guides 11. The strip is fed by the feed rolls 20 and 21 between the dies 17 and 18 until its end abuts a stop member on the moving die 17. This stop 17c positions the strip for each cut.

A positioner 24 is mounted in a slot 25 beneath each female portion of each die 17 and 18. Each positioner has a projecting finger 26 which extends through a slot 27 connecting the slot 25 with the base of the adjacent female portion (see Figure 3). The positioner is spring loaded with a spring 28 which permits it to be retracted into the slot 25 to prevent damage by the dies. Each positioner 24 is pivotally connected to one end of a lever 29 which is pivoted intermediate its ends on the housing 10. The opposite end of the lever 29 is fitted with arcam follower 30 which follows a cam surface 31 on the main shaft 14.

Each of the dies 17 and 18 is provided with a cooper; ating grasping portion 17d and 18d which grasps the nail blanks after they are positioned for heading by the positioner 24.

A header lever 32 is pivotally mounted below each female die portion so that its head 33 strikes the head of a nail blank projecting from the die. Eachheader lever is connected-to a connecting rod 34 driven byaneccentriQSS on. the. mainshaft 14.

The cam surface 31 has a portion which after the nail blanks have been headed and the gripping surfaces of the dies-are raised causes-thepositioner'24"to again engage the end of the nails to force'them fromthe machineinto the'nail bins 36.

The operation of the machine is as follows: The main-shaft 14-isdriven-from anexternal-source of power, not shown, at a substantially constantspeed. As the shaft 14revolves the main cam l-revolves withit permitting'theram 12 to be carried'by the'springs l3-to-its top position. During the upward movement of the ram 1-2*the'dog;23 mounted thereon eng'ages-theteed ratchet 22 which in turn-actuates the feed ro'll21 to feed-strip between the dies Hand '18 and 'again'st the stop 17c. Asthe mai-n shaft =14continuestorotatethe-ram '12 and the moving die 17 begin a downward movementgthe steel'stripis cut intonailblanks-when the cutting edges of themale portion of'the dies enter the female portion of the dies. After the cut is made the ram 12 and moving die 17 continue their 3 downward movement, halting momentarily before the blanks are compressed between'the dies. During this momentary halt the positioners 24, whose movement is controlled by the slotted cam 31 and the levers 29, push-the blanks intoposition with the large ends protruding slightlybeyond the dies. As soon as the blanks are positioned the downward movement of the ,ram continues and the blanks are compressed by the gripping surfaces 17d and.18d of the'two 'dies 17 and 18. When the nail blanks are under'the desired compression the downward movement of the ram halts. The header levers 32 whose movements are controlled by eccentrics 3S acting through connecting rods "34 are brought up andthe head thereof 33 strikes theprotruding end ofthe nail blanks to upset them forming a head thereon. After the head is formed theheader levers return to their lowermost position and the ram 12 moves upward carrying the moving die 17. Atthis time the positioners 24 are again acted upon by the cam 31 through the lever 29 to eject the finished nails from the dies into the nail bins 36.

While Ishave illustrated and described apresent preferred method and apparatus for carrying out my invention it will'be understood that itmay'pbe otherwise embodied within the scopeof the. following claims.

1. A mechanism for the manufacture of cutnailsfrom continuous strip comprising ,means intermittently advancing one end of a continuous :strip of metal, a pair of opposed dies receivingsaidone end, means on one Qf$3id dies limiting the advance ofsaid one end to a predetermined amount drive, means actuating one of. said dies, .means on said .dies cutting nail blanks ,from .said one end in multiples of two lyingin opposite directions in the.plane,of the strip, said blanks .each having asmall and a-largeend positioner means in saiddies positioning each blanktin the dies after the .c uttingoperationso that a-portionrtotbe upset projects outside. the dies. and-is hekipositioned by the. dies at the end of the .die travel, means upsetting the large end of each blank upon completion of the cutting operation whilei'the blanks are heldbetween the dies,'an'ci discharge meansejectingeach nail from the mechanism after the upsetting operation.

2. A mechanism'for the manufacture of, cut..nails from continuous strip comprisingmeansintermittently advancing one end 'of a continuous strip of metal, a pair of opposed dies receiving said one end, means on onenof said 'dieslimiting the advance of said one end to a pre determined amount, drive means actuating 'said Klies, means on said dies cutting nailblanks'from said one in the dies after the cutting operation so that a portion .tobe upsetprojectsoutside the dies, means onthendrive means momentarily halting the dies while the blanks are positioned therein, means on the dies gripping said blanks after positioning, means upsetting the projecting ends of the blanks against the dies, and discharge means on the positioning means ejecting each nail from the mechanism after the upsetting operation.

3. A-mechanism for the manufacture of cut nailsfrom continuous strip comprising means intermittently advancing one end of a continuous strip of metal, a pair of 0pposeddiesreceivingsaid one'end, means'on one-of said dies limiting the advance of said one end tea-predetermined amount, cam means acting on one of said dies to bring it into cooperating relationship with the other, means on said dies cutting nail blanks from said one end in multiples of two lying in opposite directions in the plane of the strip, said blanks each having a small and a large end, means in-said die positioning each blank'in' the dies after the cutting operation so that a portion to.be upset projects outside the-dies,means on the cam'means m0- mentarily halting the movement of the oneof-said-dies while'the-blanks are positionedmeans on the-dies'gripping said blanks after positioning, means upsetting the projecting ends of the blanks against the dies whilein the gripping means, and discharge means on the positioning means ejecting each nail from the mechanism after the upsetting operation.

4. A mechanism for the manufacture of cut nails from continuous strip comprising a vertically reciprocable ram, cam means acting on said ram to reciprocate it "in the vertical direction, die means on said ram movable therewith, cooperating die means fixed beneath the ram in its path of travel, means intermittently advancing one end of a continuous strip of metal between'the dies, means on one of said dies limiting the advance of said one end to a predetermined amount, cutting'means on said die means cutting nail blanks from said one end in multiples of two lying in opposite directions in the plane of the strip, said blanks each having avlarge and asmall end, positioner means in said dies positioning each blank in the dies after the cutting operation so that a portion to be upset projects outside the dies and is held positioned by the dies at the'end of thedie travel means on the cam retarding the movement of theram whilethe blanks are positione'd'in the dies, means upsetting .the large end of each blank to form ahead upon completion of the cutting operation while'the blanks are held between the dies, and discharge means ejecting .each nailffrom the mechanism after the upsetting operation. 7 '5. Aimechanisrnjfor the manufacture of cut nails'from continuous stripcomprising a vertically reciprocable ram, cam means acting on said ram to reciprocate it, die-means onsaidram movable therewith, second die means fixed beneath the ram andcooperating with the first die means, means actuated by=the movement of the ramadvancing one end of a continuous strip of metal between the dies,

. means on-one of said dies limiting the advance of said end in multiples of two lying in opposite directions in one .end ,to' apredetermined amount, cutting means on said first andsecond die means cutting nail'blanks from said one endinmultiples of two lying-in opposite directionsrinttheiplane of the strip, said blanks each having a large and a small end, means ,in said die positioning each blank in the dies after the cuttingoperation so-that a portion to be upset projects outside the ,dies,.means onthe cam'retarding themovementof the ram while the blanks are positioned in the dies, means upsetting the projecting ends of the blanks-against-the dies, and discharge means :on the positioner ejecting each mail from the mechanism after the upsetting operation.

6. Amechanism forthe manufacture of cut nails'from continuous-strip comprising a vertically reciprocable ram, cam means acting on said ram to reciprocate it, diemeans on "said ram movable therewith, second die means'fixed beneath the ram and cooperating with the first die means, means actuated by the movement of the ram advancing one end of a continuous strip of metal between the dies, limiting means on one of said dies limiting the advance of said one end to a predetermined amount, cutting means on said dies cutting nail blanks from said one end in multiples of two lying in opposite directions in the plane of the strip, saidblanks each having a large and a small end, positioning means in said dies positioning each blank in the dies after the cutting operation so that a portion to be upset projects outside the dies, means on the cam retarding the movement of the ram while the blanks are positioned in the dies, second cam means synchronous with the ram reciprocating cam means actuating the positioner in the dies, means upsetting the projecting ends of the blanks against the dies, eccentric means operated in timed relation with the ram operating cam means actuating the upsetting means, discharge means on the positioner driven by the positioner cam means ejecting each nail from the mechanism after the upsetting operation.

7. A mechanism for the manufacture of cut nails from continuous strip comprising a frame, a main shaft journaled for rotation in said frame, cam means on said shaft rotatable therewith, die means actuated by said cam means for reciprocation in the housing, a second die means fixed in the housing to cooperate with the moving die, means actuated by the movement of the cam intermittently advancing one end of a continuous strip of material between the dies, cutting means on said dies cutting nail blanks from said one end in multiples of two lying in opposite directions in the plane of the strip, said blanks each having a large and a small end, positioner means in said dies positioning each blank in the dies after the cutting operation so that a portion to be upset projects outside the dies, means on the cam halting the movement of the die means after the cutting operation while the blanks are being positioned and immediately thereafter bringing the dies into engagement with the positioned blanks second cam means on the shaft, cam follower means connected to the positioner means and cooperating with said second cam to actuate said positioning means, means upsetting the projecting ends of the blanks against the dies, connections from said upsetting means to the shaft actuating said upsetting means, and means on the second cam actuating the positioner in said dies ejecting each nail therefrom after the upsetting operation.

8. A mechanism for the manufacture of cut nails from continuous strip comprising a frame, a main shaft journaled for rotation in said frame, cam means on said shaft rotatable therewith, ram means movable in vertical guideways in the housing beneath said shaft and in contact with the cam means to be moved thereby, die means on said ram, a second die means fixed in the housing in cooperative relationship with the first die means, means driven by the movement of the ram means intermittently advancing one end of a continuous strip of material between the dies, cutting means on the dies cutting nail blanks from said one end in multiples of two, said blanks each having a large end and a small end, positioner means in said dies positioning each blank in the dies after the cutting operation so that a portion to be upset projects outside the dies, means on the cam momentarily halting the movement of the ram means while the blanks are positioned and thereafter bringing the dies into engagement with the positioned blanks, second cam means on the shaft, cam follower means connected to the positioner means and cooperating with said second cam to drive said positioner means, means upsetting the projecting ends of the blanks against the dies, connections from said upsetting means to the shaft driving said upsetting means, and ejecting means in said dies ejecting each nail therefrom after the upsetting operation.

9. A mechanism for the manufacture of cut nails,

from continuous strip comprising a frame, a main shaft ournaled for rotation in said frame, cam means on said shaft rotatable therewith, ram means movable in vertical means, means driven by the movement of the ram means intermittently advancing one end of a continuous strip of material between the dies, cutting means on the dies cutting nail blanks from said one end in multiples of two, said blanks each having a large end and a small end, positioner means in said dies positioning each blank in the dies after the cutting operation so that a portion to be upset projects outside the dies, means on the cam momentarily halting the movement of the ram means after the cutting operation while the blanks are positioned, grasping means on said dies engaging the positioned blanks, second cam means on the shaft, cam follower means connected to the positioner means and cooperating with said second cam to drive said positioner means, means upsetting the projecting ends of the blanks against the dies, connections for the said upsetting means to the shaft driving said upsetting means, and means on the second cam actuating the positioner in said dies ejecting each nail therefrom after the upsetting operation.

10. A mechanism for the manufacture of cut nails from continuous strip comprising means intermittently advancing one end of a continuous strip of metal, a pair of opposed dies receiving said one end, one of said dies being a moving die and the other of said dies being a stationary die, drive means driving the moving die, means on one of said dies limiting the advancing of said one end to a predetermined amount, means on said dies cutting nail blanks from said one end in multiples of two lying in opposite directions in the plane of the strip intermediate the travel of said one die, said blanks each having a small and a large end, positioner means in said dies positioning each blank in the dies after the cutting operation so that a portion to be upset projects outside the dies and is held positioned by the dies at the end of the die travel, a hammer means pivoted to the stationary die to strike the large end of each nail blank to form a head thereon while said blanks are held between the dies, and discharge means ejecting each nail from the mechanism after the upsetting operation.

11. A mechanism for the manufacture of cut nails from continuous strip comprising a frame, a main shaft journaled for rotation in said frame, cam means on said shaft rotatable therewith, die means actuated by said cam means for reciprocation in the housing, a second die means fixed in the housing to cooperate with the moving die, means actuated by the movement of the cam intermittently advancing one end of a continuous strip of material between the dies, cutting means on said dies cutting nail blanks from said one end in multiples of two lying in opposite directions in the plane of the strip, said blanks each having a large and a small end, positioner means in said dies positioning each blank in the dies after the cutting operation so that a portion to be upset projects outside the dies, means on the cam momentarily halting the movement of the die means while the blanks are positioned, grasping means on the dies holding the positioned blanks against movement, second cam means on the shaft, cam follower means connected to the positioner means and cooperating with said second cam to drive said positioner means, hammer means pivoted beneath the second die means to strike the projecting portion of the nail blanks to form a head thereon, connections from said hammer means to the shaft driving said hammer means, and means on the second cam '2 actuating the positioner in said dies ejecting each nail tlierefronr after the-heading, operation.

12. The'proeessof manufacturing-"cut nails-from con tmuous' strip comprising the steps of intermittently feeding' a predetermined length of continuous strip material 5 between cooperating die surfaces,- cutting nail blanks from said strip in multiples of' two lying in opposite directions in, the'plane of thestrip, positioning each of the nail blanks in the diesso that the large end thereofprojects from the cutting dies, gripping said blanks be 10 tween the dies and substantially simultaneously upsetting theen'd'- ofeach blank:

References Gited in the'fil'eof this'patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

